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County staff brief committee on BEAD broadband funding, remote areas may need satellite solutions
Summary
Sawyer County staff told the Economic Development and UW-Extension Committee that BEAD mapping and eligibility guidance are rolling out and that very remote parts of the county may require satellite or fixed-wireless service that BEAD could cover.
Andy Albarado, a committee member, told the Sawyer County Economic Development and UW-Extension Committee on Aug. 5 that the federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program is releasing maps, eligibility rules and timelines that could bring funding to the county.
Albarado said some of Sawyer County’s most remote areas are unlikely to be cost-effective for traditional fiber and may need satellite or fixed-wireless service, and that BEAD funding may make those options feasible for service providers. He described BEAD as a potential source to cover gaps in provider planning and noted that mapping and eligibility details are still becoming available.
The update was informational; committee members did not take formal action. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024, where broadband projects could be revisited depending on new BEAD guidance.
